LAGOS, Aug 28 – The United States immigration authorities have deported 63 Nigerians for failing to have valid residence permits and illegal possession of firearms, a senior Lagos airport official said Friday.
"The Nigerians were brought in yesterday aboard a chartered flight," Wale Dada told AFP.
He said the deportees consisted of 56 men and seven women and were handed over to Nigerian immigration officials.
The United States embassy was not immediately available for comment on the deportations.
Many Nigerians travel to the United States and Europe illegally each year, mostly using north Africa as a transit route.
In March, 60 Nigerians were deported from the US accused of theft, credit card scams and drug-related offences.